Why I stopped drinking

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shot by John Lee

grip - Melissa Gasca

sound - Jason Mobley

edited by Ben Chinapen

[tamerebel]

Alcohol is so bad for us in so many ways, I hate how there's so much social pressure to drink in so many countries.

[Metsa]

In general I don't have a issue with alcohol consumption. What bothers me is how we're sold the idea that drinking is a required part of every social situation. We need to get past the idea that drinking has to be a component of a good time.

[demenevai]

I'm 6 months sober and it has honestly been the best antidepressant I've ever tried. I'm actually focusing on addressing the things that are issues in my life rather than ignoring them and burying my head in the sand. 10/10, highly recommend sobriety.

[GraemeKent]

3 and half months sober, I got to the point I was hurting people, slow progress but worth it. Also had no idea Daddy SquareSpace, your legal and biological father, was in the military

[DeclinedMercy]

I never started drinking. At 20 people thought I was a weirdo. At 30 I had people's respect.

[RodriguezGorge]

I started drinking alcohol years ago as a teenage, spent my whole life fighting alcohol addiction. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.

[anthonygargano]

Haven’t had a drink for 25 years and I had a lot of consequences that led me to quit drinking but the interesting part was after I sobered up for years I would find little notes scribbled in the margins of books telling myself I had to stop drinking that I had written for a decade before I stopped drinking.

[ashleymichellemusic]

I stopped drinking for a year after the pandemic as well, and ever since I decided to start drinking again “in moderation” or with “more discipline” I have been struggling with my sobriety and it’s a battle I lose too often. The universe is screaming at me at this point. Day by day!

[xav]

I quit drinking when the pandemic was declared. I thought; this is serious, I will have to deal with this conscientiously. Most importantly, it is during the pandemic that I discovered your channel. I wish you knew how much you have helped me through the pandemic and quitting alcohol. You are rocket fuel for the soul Anna. Love Xav

[fenukii]

100% bang on the mark. Emotional suppression only leads to inner turmoil and chaos further down the road.

[myvideodiary]

I just recently decided to be sober. I had been getting "whispers" for the past 6 months or so. It feels good to be here. I'm glad I listened.

[risr]

My recent "universe screaming" moment was after my ex broke up w/ me. I thought I was handling it well as I got full into mindful practices the whole time until on one occassion I went out to drink and got drunk. I remember kissing strangers and just being crazy and loose that night. The embarrasment I felt the next morning was heavy. It was not even fun. I guess I too had pent up emotions (maybe even denied the ones that are valid). I yearned for a connection that I lost (even before the actual breakup, I felt that and kept it in) and the alcohol made me bold to find even shallow relief. Anyway, all got better after that. I love the peace that I am in right now.

[thatjeff]

I'd like to give you a "over the internet" hug. I've seen too many friends and family members ruin their lives with alcohol.

[Starfang_Wanderer]

Mine was to quit my job. Everyone in my life was telling me to do so, and I thought if I just worked harder and added more projects it would fix everything, my boss was difficult, but maybe I was just misunderstanding. Therapy helped me realize I was accepting abuse and it wouldn't stop until I set boundaries, and if those boundaries kept getting crossed it wasn't a safe place. It helped to reframe it as if it was a friend going through that stuff and how I wouldn't want my friend to deal with a lack of boundaries, no separation from home and work, to put up with gaslighting and I knew I couldn't do it anymore. And then as an additional sign, like 5 people quit within three months so, it wasn't just me.

[malcolmgruber]

I've seen the brickwall falling down on people and the life long damage it causes when people refuse to even listen to that. Glad you decided to listen Anna.

[espinaca]

I’m always amazed (and a little jealous) of how good actors can so fluently and meticulously control their expressions. I’ve watched Anna drink that glass of wine like 6 times now and everything, from the stare-into-nothingness to the frown of the mouth, fits the voice over perfectly.

And yes, I know that’s the case for pretty much all her videos.

[ethos]

Thank you for speaking on this. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse is SO common in our society that it’s easier for it to go unnoticed. Hopefully more people will become aware.

[xdwjohnson]

I am extremely impressed by your ability to discuss this openly and honestly. Thank you.

[StormSought]

I stopped drinking just because of general health stuff, and people do not want to hang out with you. Instantly no social life. It's been really weird, but at the same time, I don't want community that's contingent on drinking. It's been interesting exploring what I actually want to center my life around instead of what's expected.

[Supersonic]

This was actually really insiteful for a different reason.
I am fortunate enough to not have this level of repression, so when I drink I really don't change. Because of this, I have always had ZERO empathy for those who do change when they drink. Whether it be getting super horny and try to kiss anything that moves or really angry and aggressive, I always thought "drinking makes you more you, if you are a shitty drunk then you are just a shitty person and are good at hiding it sober." it never occurred to me that there might be things that the person needs to work out.

In the future i will try to have more sympathy for people who "change" when they drink.